Bernard L. Fourrier

Bernard L. Fourrier, 84, of Waterloo, was called to Heaven on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek.

Bernard was born on October 19, 1941, in the Parisian suburb of Garches, France, the son of Raymond and Micheline (Tassout) Fourrier. During World War II, he and his 2 siblings were sent to be with extended family in Pouancé to be safely away from Paris, where their father, a horticulturist by trade, worked at an aviation facility.

Following the sudden death of his father when he was 13, Bernard attended boarding school and subsequently graduated from The School of Horticulture in Angers, France. Bernard served in the French army and upon finishing his service, he travelled to several countries on a student visa to broaden his knowledge of horticulture, spending six months to a year in each place: Germany, Holland, England, and the United States.

In 1966, while interning at Warner Nursery, Willoughby Hills, Ohio, he met his wife, Lynda Schlecht. They married on September 16, 1967, and celebrated 58 years of marriage. In 1968, a job opportunity to establish a propagation department for McKay Nursery opened up in Waterloo, Wisconsin, where he worked for 40 years, retiring in 2008 as Vice President.

During his career, Bernard consulted at Boerner Botanical Gardens, was an honorary member of the UW-Madison Chapter of Pi Alpha Xi Fraternity (a national honor society for horticulture) and was inducted into the Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association Hall of Fame.

Bernard's interests included travel, ballroom dancing, studying world history, creating beautiful gardens and honing his language skills. In addition to French, he was fluent in German, Spanish and English, and conversational in both Dutch and Italian. He could whistle La Vie En Rose with an enviable vibrato, and Calypso music brought a smile to his face.

We will always remember you, love you and miss you till we meet again.

Bernard is survived by his wife Lynda, children Dawn Fourrier, Marc Fourrier, Monique (David) Glusick, Keith (Jennifer) Fourrier, and two grandchildren, Maxwell and Camden Glusick. He is further survived by his brother, Jean-Jacques Fourrier, sister, Geneviève Berthelon and many family members and friends near and far. He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at St. Alberts Catholic Church in Sun Prairie, with Fr. Rob Butz presiding. Visitation will take place at the church from 9:00am until the time of service. There will be a luncheon after the Mass and the burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Madison.

The family wishes to thank his caregivers, Fr. William Vernon, Fr. Robert Butz, and those who offered prayers and support throughout the journey.

In lieu of flower, donations, if desired to a charity of one’s choice would be appreciated.